Wire twisting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Wire twisting apparatus adapted for twisting a plurality of individual strands of wire into a single cable comprising a twisting head mounted for rotary movement utilizing a pneumatically actuated flexible tubing for effecting clamping of the wire to be twisted.

O Muted States Patent 1 1 3,561,502

[72] Inventor Ralph H. Swaisgood [50] Field oiSearch 140/11], Fort Collins, C010. 1 15, 149, 118, 119. l22;57/22, 77.3, (lnquired) {2| 1 Appl N01 805,545 221 Filed Mar. 10, 1969 1 1 References cued [45] Patented Feb. 9, 1971 UNITED STATES PATENTS I 1 Assignee Storm Products Company 3,065,773 1 H1962 De Vries 140/149 Los Angeles, Calif. a crpor'afion of California Primary Exammer-Lowell A. Larson Attorney-Anderson, Spangler & Wymore [54] WIRE TWISTING,APP ARATUS ABSTRACT: Wire twisting apparatus adapted for twisting a 10 Chums 8 Drawing Flgs' plurality of individual strands of wire into a single cable com- [52] ILLS. Cl 140/115, prising a twisting head mounted for rotary movement utilizing 57/22, 57/773, 140/149 a pneumatically actuated flexible tubinfor effecting clamp- [51 Ent. Cl B2lf 7/00 ing of the wire to be twisted.

'PATENTEDFEB 91am i 3561.502

snmeurz md 50 /30a INVENTOR RALPH H. SWAISGOOD Z4 & BY

A TORNEYS WIRE TWISTING APPARATUS This invention is directed to a wire twisting machine by which a plurality of individual strands of wire may be conveniently twisted together into a single cable suitable for use in the production wiring of complex electronic apparatus and devices. The individual strands of wire generally have a colored insulation coating or an insulation coating which is marked with appropriate color coding for purposes of tracing and identification of the strands.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a relativelysimple machine for twisting a plurality of strands of wire which can be operated by unskilled operators to produce high quality twisted cable.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wire twisting machine which will twist a plurality of individual strands of wire of varying gauges, color combination and lengths to provide cables of various different predetermined lengths.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wire twisting machine which will handle various wire sizes and number of strands without danger of injury to an insulation coating thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wire twisting machine which will permit the twisting of aplurality of strands of wire starting from either end or any intermediate point in between.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved wire twisting machine which will produce a uniform ratio of turns or twists per unit length of wire to produce uniformly twisted cables.

Still other and more limited objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawing.

The wire twisting apparatus according to this invention comprises a pneumatically actuated collet operatively connected to the shaft of an electric motor. The motor is controlled by a starting switch which is adapted to be manually actuated by an operator and a stopping switch which is adapted to be actuated by suitable means such as a timer or by counter means adapted to actuate the stop switch after a predetermined number of turns of the collet.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the wire twisting apparatus of this invention for use with a cutting and stripping operation;

FIG. 2 is an elevation partly in cross section of one embodiment of a single ended collet connected to the shaft of a motor for rotation;

FIG. 3- is a block diagram of the single ended collet system for twisting wires;

FIG. 4 is an elevation in cross section, partly broken away to conserve space, of another embodiment of the single ended collet;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view, partly in cross section of an open ended collet according to this invention;

FIG. 6 is view in elevation, partly broken away to conserve space, of another embodiment of an open ended collet according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is a view in elevation, partly broken away to conserve space, of still another embodiment of an open ended collet according to this invention; and,

FIG. 8 is a view in elevation of a twisted cable produced with the apparatus of this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a single end collet 10 which is seen to include a cylindrical body 12 having a cylindrical extension 14 of reduced diameter separated by a shoulder 16. Shoulder 16 is provided with a bearing surface 18 for the purpose to be explained. The end of the cylindrical body [2, remote of the extension, is provided with a coaxial cylindrical cavity 20 having internal threads 22. Cavity 20 at its inner end is provided with a short bore 24 of reduced diameter. The cylindrical extension 14 is provided with a pair of axially spaced circumferential grooves 26 and 28 adjacent shoulder 16 with a rib 30 therebetween of a diameter slightly reduced from that of the extension. Rib 30 has a bore 32 extending from the circumference thereof into and communicating with the axial bore 24 connected to cavity 20. A pair of 0- rings 34 and 36 are positioned in grooves 26 and 28 and a close fitting collar 38 is positioned about extension 14 of a width to span grooves 26 and 28 and to engage O-rings 34 and 36 in a gastight relation. Collar 38 has a threaded opening 40 therein in alignment with the bore in extension I4. An air supply pipe 42 is threadedly connected to the threaded opening 40. Extension 14 is provided with another circumferential groove 44 spaced from bearing I8 the width of collar 38. A C- washer 46 is positioned in groove 44 to hold collar 38 in place. A thrust washer 47 is positioned between C-washer 46 and collar 38. The extension 14 is provided with an axial bore 48 to receive and receiving the shaft 50 of a motor 52. Extension 14 is secured to the motor shaft 50 by means of setscrews 54.

The wire receiving head 56 having an axial bore 57 all of the way therethrough provided with threads 55 threadedly received in threaded cavity 20 and is seen to include a threaded portion 58 sized to be received in the threaded cavity 20 and a larger diameter portion 60* with a shoulder 62 between threaded portion 58 and the enlarged portion. The head 56 is screwed into the cavity 2(1) until a gasket 64 is squeezed between the shoulder 62 and; the end of collet 12. The portion of head 56 within cavity 20 is seen to comprise beyond the threaded portion 58 a cylindrical extension 66 of a reduced diameter compared with the threaded portion and the internal diameter of cavity 20. Extension 66 is seen to have one or more holes 68 extending from the circumference into the axial bore 57. Extension 66 is provided with a section 70 of a slightly smaller diameter and the extremity thereof is provided with a lip 72 of slightly larger diameter. The portion 74 of head 56 external of cavity 20 and beyond large diameter portion 60 is of a diameter approximately that of extension 70 and is provided with a lip 76 of larger diameter. A tube 78 of a flexible material such as rubber, plastic and the like is positioned in and extends beyond each end of bore 57. The ends of the tube 78 are turned back over lip 72 and 76 and secured by means of bands 80 and 82. Tube 78 would be turned over lip 72 and band 82 secured before the head 56 is screwed into the body 12. The inner end of tube 78 is blocked by a plug 84. It will be seen that the introduction of air under pressure through pipe 42 will pass through the hole 40 in collar 38, and through hole 32 and core 24 into the cavity 20. The egress of air from cavity 20 through tube 78 is blocked by plug 84 so the air flows through openings 68 into the space between the bore 57 and the outside of tube 78 causing tube 78 to collapse due to the greater pressure on the outside thereof. Thus when a pair or more of wires are inserted into tube 78 and air pressure applied through tube 42 between the wall of bore 57 and tube 78, tube 78 collapses on the wire and selectively secures them.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown a block diagram of the wire twisting apparatus according to this invention using a single end collet. A single end collet is one where the wire may only be inserted into one end thereof in contrast to a double or open end where the wire can be inserted from either or both ends. In operation, a pair of wires 86 are inserted into collet I0 and air supplied to collar 38 from air supply 88 via pipe 42 on opening valve 90. The timer 92 is set from a fraction of a second to several seconds depending on the length of wind required. The operator positions his or her fingers at the cross point 94 of the wires and on closing switch 96, power is supplied from power source 98 to motor 52 via timer for the length of time as determined by the setting of timer )2. Upon motor 52 starting draws his fingers in the direction of arrow 100 whereupon the wires 86 will be uniformly twisted in a fraction of the time manual twisting would require. On closing, valve is of the type which disconnects the air supply 88 from the collet l0 and opens the collet to the atmosphere, releasing the twisted wires.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4 wherein a different embodiment of the head 56a is shown. Head 560 is seen to comprise a cap 60a having external threads 55a threadably received by threads 22 of body 12. Gasket 640 provides a seal between body 12 and cap 60a. Cap 60a is provided with an end 93 having openings 95 and 97 therethrough. Each opening is provided with a tubular insert 99 and 101, which is secured to the opening in a suitable manner as by welding and the like. The inner ends of inserts 99 and 101 extend into the interior of the cavity of body 12. An end of a flexible tube 102 is slipped over the inner end of each tubular insertin air tight relation. Thus is is seen that when the pressure is increased within the cavity 20 by the introduction of air under pressure through pipe 42, the walls of flexible tube 103 will collapse on and grip wires and the like inserted into the interior thereof through inserts 99 and 101.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown an open ended collet arrangement of the wire twister of this invention. The wire twister 104 is supported upon a support 106 and by a support bracket 108 by means of a bolt 110 and the like. The bracket 108 has an opening 112 therein into which the outer race of bearing 114 is press fit. Bearing 114 is held in opening 112 by means of a screw 116 and the like and an inturned lip 118 on opening 112. The wire twister head 120 may be provided with a pulley groove 122 for transmitting rotary movement thereto. The twister head is provided with a step 124 of a diameter to be received within the inner race of bearing 14. Step 124 is press fit inside the inner race of bearing 14. The twister head is pr ovided with a conical axial opening 126 extending from pulley groove 122 to beyond the step 124. Beyond the step 124 the head is provided with a hollow cylindrical portion 128. A smaller hollow cylinder 130 is axially positioned inside cylindrical portion 128 and is connected thereto by means of an annular web 132 interconnecting the outside of smaller cylinder 130 with the inside of cylinder 128. A piece of flexible tubing 134 is positioned inside the opening 137 of cylinder 130. The tubing is longer than the cylinder and the ends fold over each end thereof with a clamp 136 clamping each of the folded ends to the outside of the cylinder in airtight relation. The web 132 is provided with a radially extending bore 138 extending from the outer surface of the larger cylinder 128 to the inner surface of the smaller cylinder 130. An annular air ring or manifold 140 is provided in a sliding flt relation about the outer surface of cylindrical portion 128. The air ring is provided with a threaded bore 142 therethrough in alignment with bore 138. An air hose 144' has a threaded fitting threadedly received by bore 142 and the air hose is connected to a suitable supply of air under pressure. Air ring 140 is also provided with an annular groove 146 on the inner surface thereof positioned in alignment with bore 138 to provide a passage from air pipe 144 to bore 138 upon rotation of cylindrical portion 128 with respect to air ring 140. The cylindrical portion 128 is provided with a groove 148 adjacent the outer extremity of the air ring and a split washer 150 is received therein to retain the air ring on the cylindrical portion.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, a belt 152 connects pulley groove 122 of head 120 with a motor 154 for rotation of the head. In operation several wires may be introduced into the tubing 134 and air introduced through pipe 144 into the space between tubing 134 and cylinder 130 to expand the tubing and clamp the wires inserted thereinto. On rotation of the head 120 by means of belt 152, the wires will be twisted in the manner as explained with regard to FIG. 3.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown in block diagram, an arrangement of one or more open ended wire twisting machines in conjunction with a wire cutter and stripper. Wire 156 having an insulated covering thereon is fed into a cutter and stripper 158 where the wire is cut into predetermined lengths and the insulated covering is stripped from the ends. The cut and stripped pieces of wire are ejected from the end of the cutter and stripper and are gravity fed down a chute 160 into a twisting apparatus 162. The twisting apparatus may comprise a pair of open end wire twisters 104 with a tubular housing 164 positioned between the openings thereof to support the wire strips. The housing 164 may be made in two telescoping sections to permit the adjustment of the spacing between the twisters. A gate 166 is positioned below the lower twister to limit the downward travel of the cut wires. Suitable signal generating means is provided on the cutter and stripper and produces an output for each wire cut and stripped. This output is fed via conduction 170 to a counter 168 which is set to produce an output upon receiving a predetermined number of signals or counts from the cutter and stripper. The signal from counter 168 is fed via conductor 172 to actuate and open air valve 174 supplying air under pressure from an air source 176 to the wire twisters 104 via pipes 144. On application of air pressure to the twisters the flexible tubing 138 expands and clamps the predetermined number of wires for twisting. After a predetermined delay period the delay 178 passes the signal from the counter 168 via conducts 180 to switches 182a and 182b control motors 154a and 154b. Motor 154a is arranged to rotate in the op posite direction to that-of l54b to effect the twisting of the wires. It will be appreciated that the motor l54b may not be energized in which case, motor 154a and head 1040 would do all the twisting and head 104b would merely hold the wires. After the wires are twisted, gate 166 is opened by a further timed signal from delay 178 via conductor 184. This same signal closes air valve 174 releasing the air pressure on the twisters 104a and 104b allowing the twisted wires to be discharged and a new cycle begun. Thus, it is seen that by means of the present invention, a predetermined number of strands of insulated wire precut and stripped are twisted into a unitary cable.

Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown another embodiment of the twister head 104 with particular reference to the cylindrical portion 128. The web 132a supports an inner hollow cylinder a having an opening 137a therein. Passageway 138a connects the opening 1370 with air supply pipe 144 as in FIG. 5. Again, a length of flexible tubing 134a is positioned in opening 137a. The tubing is longer than the length of the opening. The ends of the tubing are flared outwardly and clamped against the ends of cylindrical portion in air tight relation by means of clamps 136a secured by means of suitable fastener means 139 such as bolts and the like. As in FIG. 5 when air is introduced into passageway 138a the inside diameter of tubing 134a will contract and clamp any wires positioned inside the tubing.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown an open ended version of the wire twister head cylindrical portion 128 in which the structure resembles that of FIG. 4. The inner hollow cylinder l30b is supported by web 132b and the opening 137b of the cylinder is provided with internal threads 131. A pair of end caps 60b and 60c are threadedly received within the threads 131 with gaskets 64b and 64c serving to make the connection airtight. The ends 93b and 930 are provided with openings 95b and 950 and 97b and 97c therethrough. Each opening is provided with a tubular insert 99b and c and 101b and c secured to the openings in a suitable manner as by welding and the like. The inner ends of inserts 99b and c and 101b and c extend into the opening 137b of cylinder 1301). A piece of flexible tubing 134b and 1340 is slipped over the ends of inserts 99b and c and l01b and 0 respectively interconnecting same in airtight relation. When air under pressure is supplied to passageway 138b in web 132b, tubes 134C and b will contract, clamping any wires positioned therein.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of three wires 86a, b and c twisted by the apparatus of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. It will be seen that the short end of wire 86a can be positioned to emerge from between wires 86b and c as at point to lock the end of wire 86a therebetween.

Having thus disclosed and illustrated representative forms which this invention may take, the invention is claimed as follows.

lclaim:

1. A wire twisting apparatus adapted for twisting a plurality of individual strands of wire into a single cable comprising a cylindrical twisting head mounted for rotary movement about its axis of revolution, means operatively connected to rotate the head, said head having an axially aligned cylindrical cavity therein open at least one end thereof, a length of flexible tubing positioned within said cavity and sealed at each end in airtight relation such that the outer surface of said tubing communicatesonly with the cavity and conduit means interconnecting said cavity with a source of gas under pressure.

2. The wire twister of claim 1 wherein the cavity is closed at one end and the conduit is connected therewith adjacent to the closed end thereof, a cylindrical insert having an axial opening therein positioned within the cavity and secured thereto in gastight relation with the insert extending from an extremity exterior of said head and terminating within the cavity adjacent the bottom thereof with the inner end of the insert being of a smaller diameter than the cavity, said flexible tubing being positioned within the axial opening of said insert and having the ends thereof fastened to the insert to define an expandable chamber between the exterior of the flexible tube arid the wall of the insert, plug means positioned in the inner end of the flexible tube in sealing relation to seal off the cavity with respect to the inside of theflexible tube, and at least one radial passage through the wall of the cylindrical insert communicating the expandable chamber and the cavity.

3. The wire twister of claim 1 wherein a cap is received by an open end of the cavity in sealed relation with said cap having at least two parts therein communicating said cavity with the exterior of the head, said flexible tube having the ends thereof connected to said ports in gastight relation such that the ports communicate with the inside of the tube and the outside of the tube communicateswith said cavity.

4. The wire twister of claim 1 including an outer hollow cylindrical member concentric with the twister head, a radial web interconnecting the outer cylindrical member and the twister head, bearing means carried on said outer cylindrical member, a support means, said bearing being mounted on the support means to provide for rotary movement of said outer cylinder and the twister head, and wherein said conduit means includes a radially extending passageway in said web extending from the inside surface of said cavity to the outside surface of the outer cylindrical member.

5. The wire twister according to claim 2 wherein the conduit means includes a radially extending bore connecting the cavity within the head and the exterior thereof, a circumferential groove in the outer surface of the head intersecting the bore, an annular slip ring overlying said groove in gastight relation for relative movement therewith and a radial opening through said slip ring in registry with said groove adapted for connec tion to a source of gas under pressure.

6. The wire twister according to claim 3 wherein the conduit means includes a radially extending bore connecting the cavity within the head and the exterior thereof, a circumferential groove in the outer surface of the head intersecting the bore, an annular slip ring overlying said groove in gastight relation for relative movement therewith and a radial opening through said slip ring in registry with said groove adapted for connection to a source of gas under pressure.

7. The wire twister according to claim 4 wherein the conduit means includes a radially extending bore connecting the cavity within the head and the exterior thereof, a circumferential groove in the outer surface of the head intersecting the bore, an annular slip ring overlying said groove in gastight relation for relative movement therewith and .a radial opening through said slip ring in registry with said groove adapted for connection to a source of gas under pressure.

8. The wire twister according to claim 5 wherein the means operatively connected to rotate the head comprises an electric motor having a rotating shaft and the twister head is mounted directly upon the motor shaft for rotation.

9. The wire twister according to claim 5 wherein the means operatively connected to rotate the head comprises an electric motor having a rotating shaft mounting a pulley, a pulley connected to the head and a belt interconnecting the pulleys.

10. The wire twister according to claim 8 including a source of gas under pressure connected to said conduit, a valve in said conduit and timer means adapted to connect said motor to a source of electrical power for predetermlned time periods. 

1. A wire twisting apparatus adapted for twisting a plurality of individual strands of wire into a single cable comprising a cylindrical twisting head mounted for rotary movement about its axis of revolution, means operatively connected to rotate the head, said head having an axially aligned cylindrical cavity therein open at least one end thereof, a length of flexible tubing positioned within said cavity and sealed at each end in airtight relation such that the outer surface of said tubing communicates only with the cavity and conduit means interconnecting said cavity with a source of gas under pressure.
 2. The wire twister of claim 1 wherein the cavity is closed at one end and the conduit is connected therewith adjacent to the closed end thereof, a cylindrical insert having an axial opening therein positioned within the cavity and secured thereto in gastight relation with the insert extending from an extremity exterior of said head and terminating within the cavity adjacent the bottom thereof with the inner end of the insert being of a smaller diameter than the cavity, said flexible tubing being positioned within the axial opening of said insert and having the ends thereof fastened to the insert to define an expandable chamber between the exterior of the flexible tube and the wall of the insert, plug means positioned in the inner end of the flexible tube in sealing relation to seal off the cavity with respect to the inside of the flexible tube, and at least one radial passage through the wall of the cylindrical insert communicating the expandable chamber and the cavity.
 3. The wire twister of claim 1 wherein a cap is received by an open end of the cavity in sealed relation with said cap having at least two parts therein communicating said cavity with the exterior of the head, said flexible tube having the ends thereof connected to said ports in gastight relation such that the ports communicate with the inside of the tube and the outside of the tube communicates with said cavity.
 4. The wire twister of claim 1 including an outer hollow cylindrical member concentric with the twister head, a radial web interconnecting the outer cylindrical member and the twister head, bearing means carried on said outer cylindrical member, a support means, said bearing being mounted on the support means to provide for rotary movement of said outer cylinder and the twister head, and wherein said conduit means includes a radially extending passageway in said web extending from the inside surface of said cavity to the outside surface of the outer cylindrical member.
 5. The wire twister according to claim 2 wherein the conduit means includes a radially extending bore connecting the cavity within the head and the exterior thereof, a circumferential groove in the outer surface of the head intersecting the bore, an annular slip ring overlying said groove in gastight relation for relative movement therewith and a radial opening through said slip ring in registry with said groove adapted for connection to a source of gas under pressure.
 6. The wire twister according to claim 3 wherein the conduit means includes a radially extending bore connecting the cavity within the head and the exterior thereof, a circumferential groove in the outer surface of the head intersecting the bore, an annular slip ring overlying said groove in gastight relation for relative movement therewith and a radial opening through said slip ring in registry with said groove adapted for connection to a source of gas under pressure.
 7. The wire twister according to claim 4 wherein the conduit means includes a radially extending bore connecting the cavity within the head and the exterior thereof, a circumferential groove in the outer surface of the head intersecting the bore, an annular slip ring overlying said groove in gastight relation for relative movement therewith and a radial opening through said slip ring in registry with said groove adapted for connection to a source of gas under pressure.
 8. The wire twister according to claim 5 wherein the means operatively connected to rotate the head comprises an electric motor having a rotating shaft and the twister head is mounted directly upon the motor shaft for rotation.
 9. The wire twister according to claim 5 wherein the means operatively connected to rotate the head comprises an electric motor having a rotating shaft mounting a pulley, a pulley connected to the head and a belt interconnecting the pulleys.
 10. The wire twister according to claim 8 including a source of gas under pressure connected to said conduit, a valve in said conduit and timer means adapted to connect said motor to a source of electrical power for predetermined time periods. 